Here's one. Picture a man saying the following:
"I'm in favor of capitol punishment. While I agree that a single person should not have the right to decide whether another person has the right to live or die, I think that a government institution should be able to end the life of dangerous persons. In fact, in the environment of maximum security prisons, I think they should have a rotating lottery, like a roulette. Keeping prisoners who are too dangerous to have in society (or are incorrigible repeat offenders) is expensive and wasteful. Facilities are crowded. Besides, what deterrent is there to crime when you know you are going to get free room an board? If this roulette concept were instituted, there would be less over crowding, less paying for medicine, food and television for low lifes, and a lot more to risk when one is plotting law breaking."
Okay. Describe the man. (Personality, appearance, all of it.)
Did you do that? Oh, good.
Now for the other shoe:
Describe what woman would say it.
Hmm.
To be honest it was a man who said that, but the point (at least at the time) was that you can think a person is a nice and good person, and then find out some political view like this and your perception of the entire person is altered. Is that fair? Or maybe we have pre-conceived notions about what "kind" of person thinks certain things. But men always get away with more. I don't really have many gender gripes. I don't believe in the equality of the sexes. I believe that men are not naturally superior of intellect. A person doing a great job could be of either gender. But we all have our natural tendencies. How does this apply here? Does it mean that a woman who expresses this view is somehow more shocking than a man, because she is meant to be naturally warm hearted? Is someone who agrees with this guy cold-hearted? Hard to decide.
Here's the problem. It's all well and good to want world peace. I WANT IT, TOO! I want all people to be good without fear of punishment, and treat others with kindness and tolerance. But people aren't like that. They never have been. They certainly aren't now. So, when reality walks up and introduces itself, how do you react? Turn the other cheek? "Abuse me more, I like it." Personally, I'm more of the Don't Start Nothin', Don't Take Nothin' kind of viewpoint. I'm not going to randomly be mean to you, but if you are to me... Okay, maybe I just like the sound of that and the truth is that I let a lot slide. But be prepared for me to not be in the mood to allow it. (Just in case.)
Actually, I just believe in consequences. If you speed, be prepared to receive a ticket, and to pay it with good grace. It's the price of your actions. And so on. I'm with the guy that there aren't any significant consequences to crime, even as a repeat offender. So...should we execute? Hmm.
What do you think?
And another gripe I have is this: There is a certain young adult I know who is doing some protesting and speech writing. I think it's cool, even though some of the people she's targeted are those who are already trying to do their part. Oops. Do we discourage the young, just because they aren't so good at finding significant issues? Another relative was telling me she's just wasting her time. But she is learning, and taking a stand, and good grief - she's still a dependent child. How is she supposed to magically know what most effects the life of an adult or family?
True, I'm against complaining, but educating is not the same thing. Um..right? Or am I a complete hypocrite.
Your thoughts?
Lastly, something more personal.
There is some sort of little commercial building going up on the way to my house from 70. Looks about fast food/small shop sized. And the workers are striking. They're sitting in chairs by the road with picnic lunches under little umbrellas with their gripes written across the top.
This is what I feel like saying to those guys:
"You have a job, you lucky son-of-a-bitch. You don't like it? Get another one. Are you telling me that you have issues that can't be resolved in a meeting? You gotta resort to vacationing on the street, you poor thing? My husband makes just over 12 dollars an hour, then goes to school in the hopes that someday we'll be able to afford things like health insurance and the bills we already have. He doesn't even have time to mow the lawn! So, you tell me what it is they are PAYING you to do here, and I'LL DO IT. Since you have nothing to do, meanwhile, you can watch my kids. Take care you don't teach them to be anything like YOU."
Okay. I get the crazy mean lady vote for that one, no matter what I decide about the rest. But I don't take it back. So there.
Please forgive my outburst, and profanity.
What have we learned today? 1. Sometimes it depends on who is saying it. But it shouldn't. 2. Let the kid try, for Pete's sake! 3. Work hard. Or else.
And now...I go to take care of my children.
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